Separable plural container



y 1, 1966 D. B. T RAlN I v 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.DAVID B. TRAIN HQ 3 H2 ASJMJJA AHORN EVs y 1966 D. B. TRAIN 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDR.DAV D B, TRAIN was FIG 5 LWO-M SLQM H2 w. ASLLQ'MA May 31, 1966 D. a.TA|N 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 6 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.229 DAVID B.TRAIN 2|4 A 'T'ORN EVS United States Patent Filed Aug. 4,1964, Ser. No. 387,438 4 Claims. (Cl. 22923) This invention relates tocontainer apparatus for articles which are shipped and/or handled as agroup but which must be individually packaged due, for exam le, to thefact that they are subject to be individually dispensed, as in the caseof bakery products.

In the perior art the foregoing requirements were met by individuallypackaging the articles in separate containers and by subsequentlypackaging the individual containers in an outer container or box. Theserequirements were also met by individually packaging the articles incontainers which were then subsequently glued or otherwise caused toadhere to one another. The former technique was quite wasteful of thematerial from which the containers were formed, e.g., paperboard,because of the redundency of the outer container from the standpoint ofpackaging. The latter technique while more conservative of material hasnever been altogether satisfactory because of the tendency of the glueor other afiixing means to damage the outer surface of one or another ofthe adjacent containers and the printing or advertising matter usuallydisposed thereon when the containers were separated.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provideimproved container apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles thatare readily separable from one another for individual dispensing. Forfurther understanding of the invention attention is directed to thefollowing portion of the specification, the drawing and the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of container apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container apparatus of FIG. 1showing the component parts thereof in a disassembled state;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the containerapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cardboard blank from which one of theelements of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be formed;

. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of containerapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container apparatus of FIG. 5showing the component parts thereof in a disassembled state;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the containerapparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of containerapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the container apparatus of FIG. 8with the component parts thereof in a disassembled state; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the containerapparatus of FIG. 8.

In the embodiment of the invention shown at FIGS. 1 through 4 there isprovided first wall means 11 forming a first open-ended tubular body 12,second wall means 13 forming a second open-ended tubular body 14, andthird wall means 15 forming a third open-ended tubular body 16. Tubularbodies 12, 14 and 16 are disposed tion, successive tubular bodies arespaced apart from one another but are closely adjacent to each other,and adjacent sides of adjacent tubular bodies are parallel to oneanother. Overlying an end of each of tubular bodies 12, 14 and 16, shownas the upper end of each, is first end .closure means 17 and overlyingthe other end of each of tubular bodies 12, 14 and 16 is second endclosure means 18. Each of end closure means 17 and 18 comprises a firstpanel 21 disposed within tubular body 12 transversely thereof andadjacent the respective open end, a second panel 22 disposed withintubular body 14 transversely thereof and adjacent the respective openend, and a third panel disposed within tubular body 16 transverselythereof and adjacent the respective open end. 'Panel 21 is provided witha flap 24 extending outwardly from tubular body 11 past the end of wallmeans 12 from that edge of panel 21 which is most closely adjacent panel22; panel 22 is provided with a flap 25 extending outwardly from tubularbody 13 past the end of wall means 14 from that edge of panel 22 whichis most closely adjacent panel 21; panel 22 is also provided with a flap26 extending outwardly from tubular body 13 past wall means 14 from thatedge of panel 22 which is most closely adjacent panel 23; and panel 23is provided with a flap extending outwardly from tubular body 16 pastthe end of Wall means 15 from that edge of panel 23 which is mostclosely adjacent panel 22. Flaps 24 and 25 are separatably connected toone another, as by means of a tear strip 28; flaps 26 and 27 are alsoseparatably connected to one another, again as by means of a tear strip29. Each of the other edges of panels 21, 22, and 23 may be providedwith a flap extending outwardly to the ends of the respective wallmeans, as shown.

End closure members 17 and 18 are secured to each of tubular bodies 12,14 and 16 by means of tabs 31 protruding outwardly from the edges ofpanels 21, 22 and 23 and by means of slots 32 in each of wall means 11,13 and 15 for receiving the tabs 31 of the panel which is inserted inthe respective tubular body thereby defined. All of the constituentelements of each of end closure means 17' and 18 may be formed from asingle blank of material B of a size and shape indicated in outline bythe discontinuous lines. Tear strips 28 and 29 are formed by perforatingblank B along lines 33 in known manner.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 and theembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 differ from theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and from one another principallyin the configuration of the end closing means and its mode of attachmentto the tubular bodies. Thus in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 5 through 7 there is provided first wall means 111 defining afirst openended tubular body 112, second wall means 113 defining asecond open-ended tubular body 114 and third wall means 115 defining athird open-ended tubular body 116. Tubular bodies 112, 114 and 116 aresimilarly disposed with respect to one another as are tubular bodies 12,14 and 16 of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.Overlying the upper open end of each of tubularbodies 112, 114 and 116is first end closure means 117 and overlying the lower end of tubularbodies 112, 114 and 116 is second end closure means 118. Each of endclosure means 117 and 118 comprises a flat sheet of material such ascardboard having a first portion 121 overlying the adjacent open end oftubular body 112, a second portion 122 overlying the adjacent open endof tubular body 114 and a third portion 123 overlying the adjacent openend of tubular body 116. In each of end closure means 117 and 118portion 121 is separatably connected to portion 122 thereof by means ofa tear strip 129 and portion 122 is connected to portion 123 also bymeans applied either to that side of flap 141 adapted to contact therespectiveend closure means or to the end closure mean-s itself. In thearrangement shown, flaps 141 are folded inwardly over the exterior ofthe respective end closure means and coating 142 is applied to theinterior of flaps 141'.

The noteworthy aspect of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.through 7 is that containers constructed in accordance therewith can bereadily assembled by relatively conventional case sealing machinery.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10, is,like that illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, somewhat more conservativeof material than the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. Theembodiment of FIGS. 8 through 10 is a particular utility in instanceswhere automatic case sealing machinery is not available for the assemblyof the containers.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 10, there is provided firstwall means 211 forming a first openended tubular body 212; second wallmeans 213 forming a second open-ended tubular body 214; third wall means115 forming a third open-ended tubular body 116; first end closure means217 overlying the upper open ends of tubular bodies 212, 214 and 216;and second end closure means 218 overlying the lower open ends oftubular bodies 212, 214 and 216. Each of end closure means 217 and 218comprises a flat sheet having a first portion 221 overlying the adjacentend of tubular body 212; and second portion overlying the adjacent openend of tubular body 214; and a third portion 223 overlying the adjacentopen end of tubular body 216. Portion 221 is separatably connected toportion 222 by means of a tear strip 228 and portion 22 is separatablyconnected to portion 223 by means of a tear strip 229. Each end of eachof tubular bodies 212, 214, and 216 is provided with a pair of flaps 251extending from opposed edges of the respective wall means and lockingtab means 252 extending from flaps 251. Each of panels 221, 222 and 223and each of end closure means 217 and 218 is provided with a pair ofslots 253 to receive the respective locking tab means 252 of theadjacent flap 251 to permit the assemblage of tubular bodies 212, 214and 216 and end closure means 217 and 218 into a single compositecontainer.

In each of the foregoing described embodiments of the invention, then,there is described a single container comprising a plurality ofindividual tubular containers for in dividual articles. The individualtubular containers are fashioned into the single container by means ofcommon end closure means and are readily separatable from one another,as for individual dispensing, by means of tear strips carried by the endclosure means at loci intermediate the tubular bodies. It will of coursebe apparent that other means may be provided for securing the endclosure means to the individual tubular bodies and that various changesfor securing the end closure means to the tubular bodies of theillustrated embodiments may be made. It would, of course, also beobvious to utilize out means for securing the end closure means at thebottom end of the tubular bodies that is of a different nature from themeans for securing the end closure means to the-tubular bodies at theupper end of the bodies, as for reasons of strength.

Consequently, it is contemplated, within the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims, that the invention includes various modifications andcombinations of the features of a 4 cent said first open-ended tubularbody and being disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the first open-ended tubular body, said first andsecond tubular bodies being rectangularly shaped in transverse section,and being disposed with a side of the first tubular body parallel to aside of the second tubular body; first end closure means overlying anopen end of the first tubular body and an open end of the second tubularbody, said first end closure means comprising a flat sheet; second endclosure means overlying the other open end of the first tubular body andthe other open end of the second tubular body; means for securing thesecond end closure means to each of the first and second tubular bodies;and means for securing the first end closure means to each of the firstand second tubular ibodies comprising, first slot means in the portionof the flat sheet overlying the first tubular body, second slot means inthe portion of the flat sheet overlying the second tubular body, a'firstset of flaps connected to opposite sides of the first tubular body atsaid end thereof, a second set of flaps connected to opposite sides ofsaid second tubular body at said end thereof, locking tab meansconnected to said first set of flaps for insertion in said first slotmeans and second locking tab means connected to said second set of flapsfor insertion in said second slot means. 2. Apparatus according to claim1 wherein the portion of the fiat sheet overlying the first tubular bodyand the portion of the sheet overlying the second tubular body areseparatably connected by a tear strip.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

third wall means defining a third open-ended tubular body spaced fromthe second tubular body and disposed With its longitudinal axis parallelto the axes of the first and second open-ended tubular bodies andcoplanar therewith, said third tubular body being rectangularly shapedin transverse section and being disposed with a side parallel to a sideof the second tubular body; wherein the first enclosure means overliesan open of the third tubular body; wherein the second end closure meansoverlies the other open end of the third tubular body, wherein'the meansfor securing the second end closure means to the third tubular bodycomprises third slot means in the portion of the fiat sheet overlyingthe third tubular body,

and third flap means connected to the third tubular body at said endthereof, said third flap means comprising third locking tab means forinsertion in the third slot means; and means for securing the first endclosure means to the third tubular body.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the flat sheetoverlying the first tubular body and the portion of the sheet overlyingthe second tubular body are separatably connected by a tear strip, andwherein the portion of the sheet overlying the second tubular body andthe portion overlying the third tubular body are separatably connectedby a tear strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,165 12/1925Noland.

1,767,629 6/ 1930 Walter 229-23 X 1,929,811 10/ 1933 Engelsecht 229-23 X1,965,199 7/ 1934 McAleer 229-23 2,205,437 6/1940 Ringler.

2,610,784 9/1952 Henry 229-69 2,757,849 8/1956 Duif 229-1'5 2,884,1554/1959 Hanson 229-51 X 2,973,130 2/ 1961 Cottrill 229-51 JOSEPH R.LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. D. T.MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

1. CONTAINER APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: FIRST WALL MEANSDEFINING A FIRST OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR ADJACENT TO THE FILM GATE ANDBETWEEN WHICH THE ENDED TUBULAR BODY SPACED FROM BUT CLOSELY ADJACENTSAID FIRST OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR BODY AND BEING DISPOSED WITH ITSLONGITUDINAL AXIS PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE FIRSTOPEN-ENDED TUBULAR BODY, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIES BEINGRECTANGULARLY SHAPED IN TRANSVERSE SECTION, AND BEING DISPOSED WITH ASIDE OF THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY PARALLEL TO A SIDE OF THE SECOND TUBULARBODY; FIRST END CLOSURE MEANS OVERLYING AN OPEN END OF THE FIRST TUBULARBODY AND AN OPEN END OF THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY, SAID FIRST END CLOSUREMEANS COMPRISING A FLAT SHEET; SECOND END CLOSURE MEANS OVERLYING THEOTHER OPEN END OF THE FIRST BODY AND THE OTHER OEPN END OF THE SECONDTUBULAR BODY; MEANS FOR SECURING THE SECOND END CLOSURE MEANS TO EACH OFTHE FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIES; AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FIRSTEND CLOSURE MEANS TO EACH OF THE FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIESCOMPRISING, FIRST SLOT MEANS IN THE PORTION OF THE FLAT SHEET OVERLYINGTHE FIRST TUBULAR BODY, SECOND SLOT MEANS IN THE PORTION OF THE FLATSHEET OVERLYING THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY, A FIRST SET OF FLAT SHEETOVERLYING TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY AT SAID ENDTHEREOF, A SECOND SET OF FLAPS CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAIDSECOND TUBULAR BODY AT SAID END THEREOF, LOCKING TAB MEANS CONNECTED TOSAID FIRST SET OF FLAPS FOR INSERTION IN SAID FIRST MEANS AND SECONDLOCKING TAB MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND SET OF FLAPS FOR INSERTION INSAID SECOND SLOT MEANS.